Last year, Louise and I took our niece and nephew?s family down to the Galveston Schlitterbahn Water Park for the day ? and were surprised at just how much we liked it. The water is clean and refreshing, there are slides if you like excitement, and the river has lazy regions, a rapids (you ride a conveyor belt up about 15 feet, then take the long and wet way down), and even an area with tidal waves ? quite fun! Best of all, when it is 97/97 (Heat/humidity), it is a very short walk from the ramp at Galveston Scholes field (KGLS) ? in fact, it is about the same distance as the ?common folk? have to walk from the auto parking lots.
OK, so it costs $50/day, and the demographics of the RV world means that most of us are ?old farts? by comparison to the kids and young families that populate the park. But we learned a little secret ? the cost of keeping a home pool is exorbitant (not to mention the time involved). A Season pass costs a little over $100, and it takes us ten minutes to fly down from our airpark. And with a season pass, you don?t feel guilty about not staying all day ? in fact, we like to pop down there Sunday morning before the crowds get there about noon ? two hours of cool peace, then hop in the plane and be home quicker than the rest of them can get to 61st street on their way out!
So we are now confirmed season ticket holders ? the RV makes it quick and painless to get down and back, and we don?t really care how much time we spend on a particular day ? we?ve already visited enough times to more than pay for the passes. It is quite reachable in short order from any of the Houston area airports ? and heck, if you fly in from an hour away, it is still far easier to get to the front gate than if you fly to New Braunfels (their ?mother ship? park). You can bring your own food and drinks (no alcohol, but you?re flying anyway?), which saves a ton of money.
We?re thinking of organizing an RV fly-in day if anyone is interested ? heck, we might even be persuaded to stay past noon!
Paul